Why are we here? The Big Bang to the Blue Ridge


  • Appalachian Mountains: Formed over billion years ago
    • among Earth’s oldest mountain ranges
    • formation from the collision of ancient landmasses
    • major uplift/folding occurred during Pangea (335mya)


  • Once as tall as the Alps, eroded to plains, then uplifted again in the Cenozoic
    • Continues to be shaped by erosion, weathering, and geological forces

Central Pangean mountains


Why are we here? Human presence in the mountains


  • Native peoples arrived in the Appalachian region during the Paleoindian Period (10,000-14,000 ya)
    • This initial settlement occurred at the end of the last Ice Age
    • Settlers were highly mobile bands of foragers, hunters, and fishers


  • Foraging, hunting, and fishing remained the subsistence for the Native peoples of Appalachia throughout the Archaic Period (3,000 to 10,000 ya)

Why are we here? Modern indengious peoples in the mountains



  • The Cherokee people are the original Appalachians, with evidence indicating a human presence in the current Cherokee territory in North Carolina for almost 12,000 years


  • The Appalachian Trail runs through 22 Native Nations’ traditional territories and holds an abundant amount of Indigenous American history


  • The Appalachian Region includes 3 federally recognized and 5 state recognized Native American Tribal Communities

Why are we here? Indian Removal Act (1830)



  • U.S. law that forced relocation of Native American tribes west of the Mississippi River
    • tribes in the Appalachian region included the Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, and others
    • lands coveted by white settlers for use as cotton plantations and gold mining


  • Trail of Tears: Thousands of Cherokee were forcibly marched west in 1838; thousands died from disease, exposure, and starvation


  • Cultural Disruption: Removal led to the breakdown of traditional social structures, languages, and spiritual practices

Why are we here? Early European settlement of the mountains


  • 17th–18th Century Settlement: English, Scotch-Irish, and German pioneers arrived seeking land and opportunity
    • In the late 1700’s most of the population in the United States was found east of the Appalachian Mountains


  • Early pioneers and settlers traveled along the historic Wilderness Road west into the wilderness of Kentucky through Cumberland Gap

  • Economic Focus: Primarily farming and livestock in valleys and hillsides


  • Major Challenges: Faced rugged terrain, limited transport, and conflict with Native populations


  • Cultural Legacy: Introduced traditions in music, crafts, and customs that shaped Appalachian culture

Why are we here? Modern Appalachian cultural history



  • Industrial Revolution: Coal, timber, and iron extraction transformed the economy and population


  • American Revolution: Served as a key defensive region; notable battle at Kings Mountain


  • Federal Preservation: Creation of parks like Shenandoah, New River Gorge and Great Smoky Mountains signaled increased federal land management


  • Modern Appalachia: Region remains culturally rich, facing ongoing economic and environmental challenges

Why are we here? Cultural identity in Appalachia



  • Early Adaptation: Indigenous peoples developed seasonal hunting, gathering, and farming techniques suited to mountainous terrain


  • Pioneer Ingenuity: Settlers built log cabins, terraced hillsides for farming, and used local materials for survival


  • Resource Use: Communities adapted to isolation by relying on coal, timber, and small-scale farming


  • Cultural Resilience: Music, storytelling, and crafts reflect and preserve Appalachian identity


  • Modern Shifts: Residents face economic shifts, environmental change, and rural depopulation

Why are we here? Impact of those cultural choices




  • Strip mining, mountaintop removal, and their environmental consequences


  • Economic dependency on single industries led to cycles of boom and bust


  • Cultural impacts: Displacement, community fragmentation, and revival efforts

Why are we here? Limiting stories in Appalachia



  • Stereotypes: Poverty, ignorance, isolation


  • Counter-narratives: Rich traditions in music, storytelling, community solidarity, and activism













  • Question: How do these stories limit or empower regional identity and future policy?

Why are we here? The urgency for a new Appalachian story





  • Climate vulnerability: Floods, erosion, and economic uncertainty


  • Importance of cultural and ecological resilience


  • Embracing renewable energy, agroecology, ecotourism, and localism
    • reinvention of the economy

Why are we here? Approaching ecological thresholds


  • Ecological tipping points in central Appalachia: Deforestation, water pollution, biodiversity loss
    • Appalachian mountains are a vital migratory route and climate refuge

Why are we here? Approaching societial thresholds







  • Socioeconomic thresholds: Outmigration, health crises (e.g., opiod epidemic), education gaps.
    • In 2023, nearly 41,000 people left West Virginia
    • What happens if we don’t act?

Why are we here? Shifting baselines in Appalachia



  • Shift from dense forest and clean rivers to industrial scars and reclaimed lands
    • What is your firefly story?


  • Loss of traditional knowledge and oral history

Why are we here? Telling a new hero’sstory



  • Appalachia as a place of strength, creativity, and resilience
    • Reflect: What do you bring to this place?


  • Artists, scientists, and citizens reshaping the narrative
    • Act: How can you be a steward of Appalachian landscapes and cultures?


  • How do we rewriting Appalachia’s story moving forward?
    • Connect: How do we broaden the knowledge base of Appalachian past, present and future?

Science communication in Appalachia


  • Barriers: Educational disparities, mistrust of institutions, digital divides


















  • Opportunities: Place-based science education, citizen science, ecotourism

Rebuilding trust in science in this region…





  • Community-led research and partnerships with local universities


  • Grounding climate science in lived experience (e.g., flood damage, farming shifts)


  • Bridging tradition with innovation

Social Fragmentation: How can we mend the social fabric?


  • Political polarization, economic decline, and outside exploitation.


















  • Yet also: inter-generational households, neighborly networks, and spiritual communities

Course Purpose in Context of ‘Why are we here?’


  • This course is not just about learning facts—it’s about place-based awareness and civic responsibility.


  • I will do my best to teach global change in an accessible manner. Our discussions, however, will be driven by the uniqueness of ideas, motivations, and concerns of you
    • You’re part of a living history. What chapter will you write?

Lab Today: Build your Appalachian caricature






  • Why are you here—in this class, on this campus, in this region?


  • What do you hope to give and receive during your time in Appalachia?


  • Try to use AI to build a caricature of your Appalachian self

Friday Discussion Assignment (posted on Brightspace)





  • Reflect on what you’ve learned/know about Appalachia’s past and future AND your perceived knowledge of global change


  • Check your group assignment (by last name) for Friday’s group discussion
    • Submit short answers to the questions (min 1/2 page, max 1 page)
    • Submit a link/pdf to at least one article that relates to your group questions